Advertising exhibitor



A. J. KAUFFMAN.

ADVERTISING EXHIBITOR Sept. 13, 1932;.t

5 Sheets-Sheet Ffiled Feb. 6, 1951 gwwmtcw Alberwmfmn,

Sept 13 1932- A. J. KAUFFMAN l 1,877,406

ADVEERTISING EXHIBITOR lSheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1951 Sept. 13, 1932.A, KAUFFMAN 1,877,406

1 ADVERTISING EXHIBITOR Filed Feb. 6, 1951 s sheets-sheet 3 a l l g"vuil mlllllm *i nutren Astares Patented Sept. 13, 1932 fr i yA1,877,406

'PATENT orifi(g513,111-

ALBERT JOHN ILAUEEMAN, 0E 'cI-IrcAero, Iliinois, Ass'iGNoE ToADOMETEit-ooRPomirroir 0E fiiiIiiIi-rcA, 0E iIEwYoiix, E. x.,i-A cosroEArIoN orDELAWARE ADVERTISING EXHIBITOR In my Patents No. 1,7 07,861` and No.1,779,475, issued to me April 2nd, 1929 and October-28th, 1930,respectively, and iii my copending `applicationV Serial Number 394,-594, filed September 23rd, 1929, Patent No. 1,811,720, issueddune 23,1981, `on improvements in advertising exhibitors, now known in the tradeas adometers, the principle of mounting a changeable exhibitor in amotor vehicle is `exemplified and di'erent structural embodiments of theinvention illustrated. The present invention is designed as a furtherimprovement on the exhibitor and additionally, increases the mechanicaleiiiciency of the device. I

While I still maintain a casing within which the operating mechanismofthe exliibitor is housed, it is nevertheless an object of thisinvention to permit complete detachment of the mechanism from the*casingy to facilitate servicing of the mechanism and replacement ofparts if and when this `becomes necessary.

n A further object of the invention is to f simplify the advertising`card transfermechanism, at the same time providing Aa more stable anddurable structure to'assure smooth and uninterrupted transfer of thecards while the vehicle in which the exhibitor is mounted is movingforwardly- Other objects of the invention are to further simplify thedriving mechanism; to provide novel means for securing the advertisingcards, which means may be adjusted in a facile and expeditious mannerfor inserting. or removingl the cards in orfroin the exhibitor,respectively; and to provide .illuminating agents carried by the cardsecuring means of the exhibitor mechaiiism'to iender the agents readilyaccessible and to -insure maximum illumination of the cards while thelatter are secured inthe exhibitor. i

Vhile one of the preferred embodiments of this invention is herein shownand described as adapted for use in taxicabs or like public servicevehicles, it is nevertheless to be understood that the invention issusceptible of various other uses, such as on street cars, sign boards,and for various other advertising and display purposes, operable presentinvention, advertising' cards; p. v

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken from any suitable source ofenergy. Furthermore, while in the present embodiment of the inventionthe advertising indicia is vi`siblethrough one side only of theexhibitor,

it is nevertheless to be understood that both sides ofthe exhibitorcasing may be made transparent so as. to permit simultaneous display ofthe advertisingmatter` on lboth en in connection ,with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein f Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view ofan ex-vhibitor constructed in accordance `with the looking at: the faces of theon the line 2 2 -ofFig l;

Fig. 3 is a-sectional view, taken on the line i 3 3 of Fig. 1, lookingV'downv'vardly' `in',v the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 1 is a top plan Vview of the carriage forming a part of the presentinvention;

yF ig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig.'1;

Fig. 6 is a .fragmentary sectional view,

italien on the -line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail, combined view, showing one of the advertising cardsin perspective and a portion of the vcarriage inl fragmentaryperspective, to illustrate the manner of engaging the carriage withanadvertising card Fig. 8 is a detail, fragmentary,enlarged, perspectiveview of the top of the exhibitor frame, showing to advantage one .of theyielding pawl carrying center blocks and also illustrating thef mannerof engaging.4 `the card securing `rail with the frame; .l

Fig. 9 is a detail, enlarged, perspective view of one of the centercarriage pawls,sliow.ing a is a sectional view, takenron the While inthe present invention I still employ an exhibitor of box-likeconformationk which is adapted to be deposited in the wall of ataxi-cab, bus,streetcar, train' or like public servicefvehicle, as wellasin railway stations, or. otherbuildings or stationary structures,etc., in order'thatY the advertisementsor other indicia to be displayedarein `a! position in the path ofivision of the occupants of the cab orvehicle, nevertheless, inl

the present invention', I detachably mount ythe exhibitor mechanisminthe casing. It'is the purport of this invention to make the Acompleteexhibitor mechanism in Ya unit which is detachablv carried by the casingin a manfn'er more fullyhereinafter described.

The casing of the present invention is genverallydesignated'i12 and, asshown to vadvantage in Figs. 1', 2 and 5, is of 'substantially oblongconstruction and relatively fiat, so as *toV be readily accommodatedwithin ,the wall of anV automobile. V'lheca'sing consists of a bodyportion 13 and a hinged cover portion 14. 'Ihe cover ,14is provided withtransparent panels or panes 15, preferably two (2) in number, beingdisposed to Vpermit simultaneous visualization of two 2) advertisingcards or the like, arrangedV in parallel relation within the casing. Thepanels or panes 15`are mounted in framesl, which extend vinwardly anappreciable distance from the wall of the cover to form a protectivehousing.l 'Ihepanels or panes are Vpreferably se- Vcured fromdisplacement by springs 17.l The ymarginal edge of the cover whichengages the complemental margin ofthe body, is recessed .andprovidedwitha suitable packing 18 to `with' the body.

n apparent manner.

provide a seal between the body and cover. l'Ihe cover may besecured tothe body by any conventional fastening Vmeans capable of 'holding thepacking 18 in intimate contact The exhibitor mechanismis generallydesyignated 19 and is of a size and shape which conforms to the contourof the body 13 in which it is deposited. `The' mechanism embodiesessentially a skeleton frame which may be cast or otherwise formed as aunit, the

56 frame consisting oftop Aandbottom bars 20 Vand 21, respectively. Thekframe also embodies end rails or bars 22; The frame is secured-to thebody 13 by means of three "screws'23, which are readily operabletoattach ordetach the exhibitor mechanism in an Detachably secured tothe end bars 22 of the frame, is a track 24, which extends the fulllength of the frame 'and isxadapted to have superimposed thereonadvertising ineinbers which, in thepresent instance, consistof cards25.4The bottom faceof the top bar 20 isrecessed to receive the uppermarginal ed ges of the cards 25, whereas the lower marginal edges of theintermediate lcards are snperimn posed on'the track or platform 24. willbe noted, however, upon reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings, that theoutermost cards 25 are positioned beyond the sides ofthe rail 24 topermit transfer of the same ina manner hereinafter set forth.

the rail or platform 24 extends in parallel It will also be notedV uponreference 'to Fig. 5 of the drawings.that

relation to the lower bar 21 of the fraii'ie `and is spaced therefrom toaccommodate one side of a carriage 26, which latter is slidably mountedon the rail.V vThe opposite sides of ,the Vrail are provided withlongitudinally, ex-

tending grooves or recesses which comple-- ment corresponding groovesformed on the inner walls of the sides of the carriage 26 lto v providesubstantially diamond shaped channels in which anti-friction means 2?are mounted. The carriage 26 is free to slide "over the entire'length ofthe rail 24, so-as to carry or transfer cards from one end of the frameto the other, as will be more fully hereinafter set out.

In order'to operate the carriage, I equip the latter with abearing'block 23, which extends froni the bottoni face of the carriage.

and is provided with an opening through which a drive shaft 29 extends.The opposite ends of the drive shaft lare journaled in bear-V ings 30,formed integral'with the bottoni bar 2l of the frame. T he drive shaftisprovided with twin threads 31, running in opposite directions toprovide a double action worm drive. One endof the shaft is reduced andkeyed or otherwise fixedly secured to one side parts of the clutch arein position, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the pins bear against theinner periphery of the part 32 ofy the clutch.

to the drive shaft 29, whereas .rotation of the Ystub shaft in the`opposite direction will have Yno effect in the drive shaft. `34 isequipped with an aniiulus 38, which Yspaces the parts of the clutch fromthe bear- T he Ystub, shaft ing sleeve 35. In the present instance, Ihave shown the outer end of the stub shaft to be bifurcated, asindicated at 39, adapted for -It is `apparent that when the stub shaft34 is ,y turned inY one direction, motion is impartedV engagement with acomplement-al iittiiig'car i ried by a driving element'which may extendto the moving part of a vehicle, be driven by a motor, orv otherwiseoperated. Furthermore, I have shown theouter end of the bearn ing sleeve35 to be enlarged and to be provided withinternal screw threads 40 forengagement with a coniplemeiital fitting in a manifest manner. Thebearing sleeve`35is nin oneend of the casingl2. i

Aao

limountedfinthellowerjend of one ofthe en'd gbars 22,

while the enlarged end thereo'fjis 'mounted in a f complemental vopeningformed V"bearilgjblock 28`hasffa recess 4l formed therewhichcommunicateswiththe bore'of the bearing through which' the drive shaft'fpasses. "The lower end of the'rece'ss isjreduced and has aworin'follower 42 mounted therein, the'lowerend of which latter is reiduced to provide 'a pintle which rides inthe threads of the drive shaft29. Theworm'follower yheld from displacement by a l screw 43x. lult'lisconseqiiently manifest that rotation 'ofthe drive shaft 29correspondingly imparts ter along the rail. p p l A Theadvertising'members or cards'25 are movement tothe carriagef26 to yslidethejlatlarranged inV two (2,) batteries or packsin the opposite endsofthecasing, 'one battery vor 'pack ofthe cards being vseparated from theother by means of partition blocks 44, one of said blocks being engagedwith the lower face of the top of the frame, while theother block isengaged with the top 'ofthe track 24. Each of the blocks 44 has a pairof catches 45 mounted therein, each'catch having one end thereof pivotedin the'block, while the oppo ends of the catches 45 extend in oppositedi- ,rections in order that the outermost catches will engage the cardsat the right side of the frame and the innermost catches will engage thecards Vat the left side of the frame, to serve as abutments againstwhich the cards are held by spring-pressed plungers 48. A pair of theplungers is mounted in one of the end bars 22, adjacent the outer faceof the latter, while another pair is mo-unted in the opposite end bar22, adjacent the rear face of the latter. The spring of each plunger maybe tensioned by an adjustable plug 49. l Y

In order to transfer the cards from one end of the frame to the other,the carriage 26 is equipped with advertising card embracing means. Themeans in the present instance is shown to consist of a spring-pressedpawl 50, carried by the outer wall of the carriage `at one end of thelatter, a similar pawl 5l carried by the inner wall of the carriage atthe opposite end of the latter, and twin pawls 52 mounted in thecarriage approximately midway the ends of the carriage and at oppositesides, the pawls extending in opposite directions. Upon reference toFig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that when the carriage ismoving from the `refe a un agitent @rui-easing; aie-pms 45,0 and 52on"VV the 1 outsidef of the ca'rriagelare "engaged f with thele'ftterminal l'of the' `card andwith Aa recess? 53,?respectively.'Injfthis vposition the rearl p'awls 5,1 and 52 are` held in cardsonftherightendof the casing. Also "itj-jwill bejnotewdiftliat duringthis cycleof op'- eration, theouten catch 45 is'in a-dep'res'sed =or inoperativepositiomdue to the pressure jan inoperativepositionfbythepressure oftheVof the card being transferred 'against said@ catch. Conversely,thefinner catch 45fisin anf expanded'position, so as, tobe iinpinged Vbytheinnerl end of the card on-the bottom 'of the b'attery'or paclrattheleft end of the casing, dueto the action of the plungers 48 Vat the leftside of the exhibitor, as shown: in Fig. 2, 'As-soon,"` however, 'as thecard is completely transferred from the left to the right end oftheCasing,'"the Yplungers" 48 at the right end of theicasing, aredepressedand the cards at the rightend ofthe casingare urged rearwardly,permitting the catch 51 to impinge against the right end of the -in-Vneimost c ard "at Vthe right end ofthecasing,

and also permitting thepawl V52to flex' into the opening-53m saidinnermost card atthe right end of the casing. Continued rotation lof theshaft 2 9 causes thesaid innermost card to be urged overtowardthe'leftend of the casing, Vduring which cycle of operation the inner catches`45 are depresseduntil said card is completely moved to the left'side,at which time theplungers 48 at the leftend of the j,

4casingiaredepressed and the rearv or innert mostcatches.45.4arevpermitted to-:fleX out into af:` normal positionyforimpingement yagainst theftermin'al ofthe card which has Ajustbeenztransferred to the leftend ofthe casing; The cardsat-thef left endof the f casing are then urgedoutwardly toward the front of, theicasing1in ani4 obvious mannnerv `and `continued rotation-.of the shaft causesthe` front card` atthe.- left end lofthe casingV to be transferred tothe right end of the caso ing,"in the manner already described; It isapparent that thisftransfer of cards fromsone end of thecasingto theother is` continuous, so long asthe shaft^29y is rotated. Itis ofcourse, apparent that if the stub shaft 34`is operated inacounter-clockwise direction, no

movementis imparted tothe shaft 29.

latter'. lIt will b'e noted, especially upon reference to Fig. 2 ofthedrawings, that thel inner'facesl of the fingers 54l are rounded to-permititheca'rds 25 `to slide freely-thereover.

'A guard rail55isdetachably and adjustably mountedon `thetop'loar of theframe, said -rail normally overh anging the upper margins of thecardswhen the'latter are in position T., in" the -frame"- The "rail issecured -tof the frame by screws 56,'.the latter being `mounted inelongated openings 57 toy permit the rail tobe urged upwardlywhen: it isvvdesired to Vremove the advertising cards.v

Theguard rail55 also serves as a supporting means for the illuminatingagents 58, the

latter in the presentinstance, consistingy of ,small electric bulbs,Which are lighted throughthe medium ofwires 59. The vWires 59 arecountersunlr in the top bar of the frame and are engaged with aconventional `plug-in terminal 60, completelyy mounted l Within one ofthe end bars 22.0f the frame.

In the-present instance thev advertising cards or plates consistof metalblanks, the lateral margins of Which are rolled to reinforce the same,theadvertisements being superimposed on said blanks. -Y While I havefound that this is a desirable` form of carrying the advertising data,it is apparent of.

i `cours-e, thatvarious other' modes of carrying advertising may be emofthe casing tothe'other by movement of the 'drive shaft in only onedirection and being engaged by'only a single bearing supported from thecarriage and forming apart of the latter.' It is ofimportance, also, inthe present invention to provide ya guard rail to aug- Vmentretention'of the cards in thev frame, yet

blockandshaft'being complemental-Whereby Y movement of the carriage,fromoneendof thecasing tofthe other andreturmiseifected during rotationto the drive shaft.

2. An advertising exhibl'torv including'Viai,A

-frameequipped, with advertising'carr ing membersmeansto move saidmembers .rom

oneend of the frame to the other, meanson the frame to preventdisplacement of thefadvertising members, and illuminating agents mountedon said second-mentioned means.

3.v An advertising exhibitor including a frame equipped with advertisingcarrying members, means to move said membersV from one end yoftheframeto the other, a guard rail detachably carriedV by the frameandiover-V`hangingsaidV members to prevent displacement thereof` While in use, andilluminating agents mounted on said detachableV guard rail andremovableWith'thelatter'.

4. An advertising exhibitorincluding a frame `"eopiipped withadvertising cards, a platform engaged With the frame having recesses inthe oppositesides the'reof,'a carriage slidably mountedonsaid platform.and provided With recesses complementing the' recesses of rthe platformto provide a channel diamond shaped in cross-section, ,'rollerbearingsmounted in saidchannel,and1means on the carriage and engageable Withlsaid'cards to selectively movel the latter in conjunction With thecarriage. n

LALBERT JOHN KAUFFMAN. 'j

being movable in its entirety to permit the cards toV be expeditiouslyremoved. The guard rail also serves to conveniently support thelightingmeansrin close proximity to the advertising cards and also retains theilluminating f means in'Y aV readily accessible position, to permit thechanging of bulbs, etc. n Y

While I have described the device of my invention as being especiallyadaptedfory use in the exhibition of advertisingmedii for use Vin publicservice vehicles, or stationary exlliibits, I am nevertheless aware thattheV device of the present-'invention maybe also advantageously used forthe exhibition of various other subject matter,..within the f scope ofthe claims hereto appended.

Vhat is claimed is `l. vIn a device of the character described, a

supporting frame equipped With a carriage,

indicia bearing plates mounted in said frame l and superimposed upon thecarriage, the latter beingmovable from one extremity of the frame to theother to transfer only the cards mounted on the carriage, a drive shaftmountedon the frame, and a single bearing block lsupported by said'carriage and engaged with f saiddrive shaft`,'the co-acting faces ofsaid

